US President Donald Trump has given Hamas a deadline of 6 PM Eastern Time on Sunday to accept his 20-point plan for peace in Gaza, warning that if Hamas doesn’t agree to the terms, they will face severe consequences.
“If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.
The proposal, backed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calls for an immediate ceasefire, release of hostages within 72 hours, Hamas’s disarmament, and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Trump’s plan also outlines a post-war transitional authority, with himself potentially heading it.
Arab and Turkish mediators are pressing Hamas for a positive response, but a senior Hamas figure has expressed concerns and indicated the group may reject the plan. Hamas has been reviewing the proposal and has informed mediators that they need more time to study it. The group is reportedly divided, with some members supporting unconditional approval and others having serious reservations about key clauses.
According to a Hamas official, “Not yet, intensive discussion is under way.” The official added that Hamas had held talks with Arab mediators, Turkey, and Palestinian factions to shape “the Palestinian response”.
The Gaza Strip has been under intense Israeli military operation, with the UN reiterating that there is no safe place in Gaza and Israel-designated zones in the south are “places of death”. The conflict has resulted in significant loss of life, displacement, and humanitarian crisis.
The UN aid chief, Tom Fletcher, said Trump’s Gaza initiative “opens a window of opportunity”. He added that the plan “offers both a chance for Palestinians to receive life-saving aid at the scale urgently needed, and to bring the hostages home”. The plan specifies that aid will be distributed without interference by neutral international groups, with the UN promising 170,000 metric tons ready to enter Gaza.
However, the situation on the ground remains dire, with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced and struggling to access basic necessities like food, water, and medical care. As the deadline approaches, the international community is watching closely to see how Hamas will respond. Trump has made it clear that this is a “last chance” agreement, and that there will be severe consequences if Hamas fails to agree to the terms.